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A Life Less Ordinary

Category: Food (page 5 of 8)

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – November 2021

December 9, 2021 / / 32 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Mark, Maya, and I spent the entire month of November on the road in T&T (Thirsty & Temp), exploring New Mexico and Arizona, which explains our high fuel cost. Camping in nature was free, as usual. This was NOT what we had in mind when we left Massachusetts mid-September. It was the start of a new string of negative developments that would affect our decisions and continue well into December. Let me explain…

Nice and private free campsite in Gila National Forest, NM
Camped on BLM land near Espanola, NM
Another peaceful free campsite in Arizona

Before we hit the road in our new set-up, we had a two- to three-week house sit lined up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for home owners and dogs we are familiar with and have done repeat sits for. The owners asked us back, were going to pay us, and wanted to meet Maya. We had a destination and a time frame (mid-November), came up with a loose route, and would enjoy two months of travel and sightseeing until the sit started.

As our trip progressed, Mark and I made plans (yep, the P-word that we should ban from our vocabulary!) for our stay in Albuquerque. Other than taking care of the dogs, the home, the mail, and the yard, we looked forward to sitting still for a couple of weeks enjoying the luxuries and comforts of a fabulous house,  dealing with much-needed camper projects (making adjustments to our camper platform, equalizing the cells in the lithium battery Mark built, fixing the bathroom sink, modifying parts of the interior), doing promo work for my book, focusing on freelance work, creating an annual calendar for my family, and getting some administration in order.

We did stop in Albuquerque, NM, for an afternoon at Home Depot, for platform attempt #2.

So, when this sit was cancelled, we lost more than the prospect of extra income. We were pretty bummed, but more imminent and important, we needed to figure out where we could work on the camper for a few days. Luckily, we have a friend in Benson, Arizona, a fellow Westy owner, who agreed to our presence in his driveway for a couple of nights that turned into four. Not only did we have the space we needed, but John is also a wealth of information with a wealth of tools and scrap materials!

John, a battery expert, helps Mark diagnose what’s wrong with the individual cells.
Mark working on the sink contraption
Attempt #3 (and more money invested) for a camper platform that works
Extra project, yet tricky and time consuming: cutting the long cupboard lids in three pieces
John helped Mark with many of our projects
The separate parts are easier to open and close
A new spigot in the sink

Some of our expenses last month are related to this stay, as we – again – attempted building a different platform to rest our camper on. Maybe the third try is the charm? We modified and fixed a few camper items and installed new faucet in the bathroom. We took our friend out to a fabulous lunch at Mi Casa restaurant (look at those reviews and check them out if you pass through!) as a thank you and cooked an extensive Mexican dinner for him as well. It was a productive mid-week.

That’s not Zesty! It’s John’s Westy. We traded ours for a truck camper…
Fish tacos a la Mark in Temp – our first dinner guest!
Lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Benson, AZ
Look at those dishes! Not only tasty and filling, but pretty too.
Good find, John!

A few of November’s categories are high as we started stocking up and preparing for our winter trip to Baja California, Mexico (which has now been postponed, but more about that in another post). And we purchased special ingredients for two celebratory dinners in Temp: Thanksgiving and my birthday.

Chicken instead of turkey – the camper way….
Thanksgiving dinner, most of it made from scratch

We bought extra food for us and Maya and we took our dog to the vet for her annual check-up and a couple of vaccines. Mark needed his second shingles shot as well, which we had to pay out of pocket as we have Massachusetts health insurance that only covers us elsewhere for emergencies. On the same topic, Mark and I also received our booster shots for Covid, which were free. The family is all set for Mexico!

View for a week from our bed – Saddle Mountain BLM
Scenery along our hike
And, some saguaros here too.
Taking a breather in the shade of the mountain
Hiking in the rocky desert of Arizona
Found it! Petroglyphs at Saddleback Mountain.
It was very rocky and not ideal to walk, especially for Maya.

Free entertainment came in the form of dog walks in the desert, soaking in natural hot springs, and finding local and cultural treasures.

Black Rock Hot Springs
Maya remained on the rocks
A cold river next to comfortable hot springs
Gila Cliff Dwellings, New Mexico
Gila Cliff Dwellings, New Mexico

Without friends inviting us to use their washing machines, we have to pay for laundry again. 🙂 The amount we spent was actually higher than mentioned in this overview, but we had extra quarters left from a previous laundry expense category. And last but not least, because of our credit cards and cash back program, we received a bit over $50 back. From now on, I am incorporating these amounts in our totals, something I haven’t done in the past.

(The Chase offer of 100,000 bonus points I mentioned a few months ago is not available anymore. When signing up for this credit card now, you can earn 60,000 points when following the directions here.)

Free camping next to Saddle Mountain, AZ, for one week

November 2021 Overview:

Camper (fuel: $318; maintenance: $198):

Groceries:

Dog (vet: $116; food: $67):

Medical (Shingles shot M):

Alcohol:

Health & fitness (vitamins):

Utilities (phone: $35; propane: $22; Skype: $5):

Household (supplies):

Dining out:

Clothes (socks, flip flops, undies M):

Laundry:

Entertainment (books):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

Credit:

TOTAL:

 

$516

$393

$183

$155

$88

$65

$62

$50

$46

$27

$8

$4

$0

———

$ 1,597

–    $ 54

———

$1,543

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

Available on Amazon and elsewhere

eBook: US$ 5.99

Paperback: US$ 13.99

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – October 2021

November 12, 2021 / / 47 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Mark, Maya, and I spent the entire month of October on the road in our truck camper, getting from Illinois to New Mexico with stops in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado. Lots of driving and extra gear were the main source for our high expenses. We bought a new faucet for the bathroom, latches for the drawers (we had three break in one week – what to do with all their contents while we drove?), a grease gun, and a battery monitor. I have to stop stating that it was – yet – another costly month and face the fact that life has gotten incredibly expensive in the US. And I’m not only talking about fuel.

(As always, hover over or click on photos for captions.)

New faucet for the bathroom. It was cheaply made, so Mark needed to replace the O-ring and make adjustments to it.
Maya at the reservoir of Shep Canyon, where we stayed multiple nights.

In 2020 (and previous years), our monthly average expenditure was around $1,300. We met this goal only twice in 2021. Prices of products in grocery stores and online have risen and the cost of fuel – which I realize is still much lower than in Canada, Belgium, or Mexico – is becoming cost-prohibitive for us. Now is NOT a good time for a cross country road trip or camper life as a nomad. It’s not that we can cut more in other categories as we’re pretty careful already. Mark and I have daily discussions about our options. Sitting somewhere for longer periods of time? Finding “real” jobs for a bit? Changing gears once again?

Camped at Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area, Nebraska

In the past, readers of this blog and people following our adventures have asked us how they can support us. Why don’t we have a tip jar, pizza/beer/coffee fund, ads on the website, or a crowdfunding platform? Apart from a few affiliate links, we are staying clear of any of this. So far. The best, easiest, and most rewarding (and beneficial to you) way to support us, is by buying my book – via links on this website, as a hard copy from me personally if your address is in the US, or elsewhere online.

Trying to save money has caused us frustrations in October (and this month too). Usually, we use the free app GasBuddy, but with prices fluctuating from hour to hour, we often show up at a station to a price that is 30 cents a gallon higher than last reported. This means we drive to a different station on the other side of town, costing us more fuel – and time – to get there than it is worth buying gas for a few cents less. If the price at station #2 is, in fact, lower. More often than not, it isn’t and we end up paying a premium anyway, despite the detour.

Getting expensive gas in Bayard, Nebraska

GetUpside is a wonderful alternative. This app gives a discount at certain stations and seems to be more reliable these days. If anyone is interested in signing up, feel free to use the promo code FE3MM7 or this link. It should give you a discount of 15 – 40 cents per gallon of gas or diesel on your first fill at participating fuel stations.

Another problem is our dismal fuel economy. We only get 10 miles to the gallon in this pickup truck, which is less than half of our campervan Zesty! This reduces our radius from 500 miles to 300 miles before we need to fill up again (despite the bigger tank), is twice as expensive as before, and makes us plan our routes a certain way (as in, avoid the Rocky Mountains in Colorado). And that’s with Mark not using cruise control and being extremely aware about how he drives, which is exhausting. Even then, our fuel cost last month was outrageous – over 1/3 of our total expense – and so was the expense for propane, which also has gone up substantially compared to six months ago.

Maya with her new tracker
Maya’s big container of fish oil
Parked overnight at the Bas Pro Shop of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They allow RVs to spend one night a year here.

What else did we spend money on in October? We bought a new gps tracker for Maya. Tractive (a company Mark researched in the past) had a special, offering the device for free and an annual data fee for $84. We switched from Whistle, because Tractive provides coverage internationally and has more usable features. We stocked up on the fish oil supplement for our dog as well. This container should last at least six months.

Tasty and healthy lunch on October 1st, in Wicker Park, Chicago, provided by Peta and Ben (Photo courtesy Peta Kaplan)
Appetizers and dinner at Keith & Kavita’s place in Chicago

Alcohol was high, because we visited friends and brought stacks to share and leave. We also treated our friends in Chicago to a Thai take-out meal. On the flip side, wonderful friends treated us to lunch (thank you, Peta and Ben), dinner and fresh veggies from the garden (thank you, Gail and Jon), and other food (thank you Keith, Kavita, and Margaret).

Our TV swings out from the bed area towards the dinette.

Mark convinced me to get a Chromecast device on sale. For about $20 we managed to snatch the last one at a department store and now we actually use the TV that came with our camper by pairing it with a tablet and streaming Netflix, etc. to enjoy a bigger screen; luxury!

Entrance sign to the national park
Driving through Badlands National Park
Enjoying the American Badlands

We bought a few new items for the camper household (our cereal bowls broke after I forgot to latch one of the cabinets; our drives are VERY rough and often on bumpy dirt roads) and shorts for Mark. We also paid the $30 entrance fee to Badlands National Park and renewed one of our domain names. Phew!

Camped along the badlands of South Dakota
Little Swan Lake, Iowa
Oacoma Flats, South Dakota
Camped south of the national park, before a rain storm
Camped at Shep Canyon National Recreation Area, SD
Camped at our friends Gail & Jon’s house in the Black Hills, South Dakota
Camped for one night in the prairie of Monument, Colorado
Camped at Mountain Home State Wildlife Area in Colorado for a couple of nights

As usual, we camped for free in the most amazing places. Imagine we’d stay at real campgrounds with fees of $20-$40 a night.. We definitely wouldn’t be able to afford this lifestyle anymore! Hurray for boondocking spots and the American west that is full of them. 🙂

One of our favorite campsites, in Colorado, last month. Happy to report our heater works at 8,500ft altitude!

October 2021 Overview:

Camper (fuel: $553; parts: $207):

Groceries:

Dog (GPS tracker: $84; fish oil: $48; bone: $8):

Alcohol:

Utilities (phone: $35; propane: $31):

Dining out:

Computer (Chromecast: $21; hosting site: $19):

Household (supplies):

Entertainment (Badlands NP):

Clothes (shorts M):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$760

$241

$140

$77

$66

$54

$40

$35

$30

$15

$0

———

$ 1,458

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

Available on Amazon and elsewhere

eBook: US$ 5.99

Paperback: US$ 13.99

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – September 2021

October 13, 2021 / / 24 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Mark, Maya, and I lived in a guest room in Massachusetts for the first half of September and returned to the road, in a new-to-us camper after that. The second part of the month was spent driving through and/or visiting the states of New York, Ohio, and Illinois, arriving in Chicago by the end of the month.

Free overnight parking in Chicago, at Lincoln Park

Those first two weeks of September were quite hectic, as we prepared for our trip, installed more parts to make our mobile lives easier or more comfortable, and I aimed to get to a stopping point with my book promo. Mark added an inverter and charger to our home on wheels and rewired parts of it to suit our homebuilt Lithium battery.

(As always, click on or hover over photos to read the captions.)

Rewiring the camper for the new battery and adding a charger and inverter
Tweaking the Lithium battery Mark built
Maya resting in the garage, as close to us as possible!

The most tricky – and annoying – task was figuring out a way to bring our e-bikes with us, now that an extension swing-out hitch and our original bike rack were not an option anymore. We ordered durable hooks, a backing plate, hardware, and straps to come up with a decent solution. This configuration on our ladder had to be changed – in Massachusetts and on the road – multiple times to avoid chafing and reduce damage on our bikes. It’s been an ordeal!

Installing straps and hooks on the ladder to carry our bikes
Protecting the carrier rack and adding a layer to our bikes in order to barely rest them on the back bumper.
Figuring out a new way to transport our e-bikes – not so easy without our swing-out hitch and rack from Zesty.

We covered about 1,000 miles last month, which is reflected in the high fuel cost, but is nothing compared to this month. Our fuel economy is terrible! Even worse than we expected. This is hard to swallow for us “thrifty travelers” as we are still getting used to our new camper set-up and weigh the pros and cons compared to a campervan. That topic will be for a future post!

Driving through the countryside in New York
Passing by Cleveland, without stopping
Driving through the countryside of Ohio
Figuring out how accurate the fuel gauges are… And, yes, our fuel economy is HORRIBLE. More about that later.
Approaching Chicago the end of September

Now that we live in our truck camper, we needed to change its insurance policy to reflect its higher value. We also bought more household items, like an outdoor mat, shower curtain, towel bars… Our first propane refill was expensive. Hopefully this is related to us messing about with the refrigerator setting. This fridge, unfortunately, runs on propane.

Remember that pricey Mexican lunch last month? The friends we treated back then, covered our part of a take-out dinner before we left on our trip. Hence, no dining out category for September. Since we mainly drink in company these days, the alcohol cost is for beer, wine, and sangria that we brought to “parties.”

Saying goodbye to good friends before we take off indefinitely
A spread of fabulous food and drinks over Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day Weekend get together with friends
Fabulous pasta dinner at our friend Sean’s place in Schenectady, New York
We pretty much cooked all our dinners in September
Our favorite, affordable wine – a red blend from California, available at Trader Joe’s (depending on the state)

We decided to spend money on entertainment this time around, by visiting two of New York’s most iconic state parks, sporting loads of waterfalls and hiking trails: Watkins Glen SP and Letchworth SP. You can read more about those sites here.

Watkins Glen State Park, New York
Letchworth State Park, New York

And, some attractions are free, like Indiana Dunes National Park, where we hiked, biked, and even spent the night! 🙂

We passed this attraction on a previous cross country road trip
Small snake on the path
Happy Maya on the beach
The biggest dune in the park
Deer along our bike ride
A twenty-mile e-bike ride to stretch the legs – after a five-mile hike…
Scaling a dune
Sandals do collect… sand!
Finding a massive body of (fresh) water and white, sandy beaches that resemble the seaside is strange.

In true Liesbet and Mark fashion, we once again boondock every night. This  means camping without hook-ups or – usually – facilities. It’s also called “dry camping” or “wild camping” and is often (in our case, always) free. We use the no-cost app iOverlander (for campers by campers) to find suitable locations to spend the night. We also contribute to this service by adding new places, reviews, photos, experiences, and updates.

Our first night boondocking (in nature, not in driveways) in the truck camper
Free camping in Watkins Glen, NY
Parked overnight at a rest area – not sleeping well those days
Camped at the MH/RV Hall of Fame in Indiana
Free overnight parking at the visitor center of Indiana Dunes National Park

This expense report was a tricky one to create, because my accounting is different than Mark’s, who actually keeps track of everything in Quicken. His total expense for September 2021 resulted in a negative number, because we – finally – sold many valuable items that came with the truck and camper that we didn’t want. The idea being that this amount went towards our expenses for the truck and camper. Based on that math, the first category in my list underneath boiled down to only $20. Yes, we sold $990 worth of stuff. Most of it last minute!

The truck came with a sparkling, fancy Tonneau cover, which we tried to sell for months
The swing-out rack and massive storage box that came with our camper sold within a day of posting the ad!

The second “discrepancy” (a credit of $857) came from our Chase credit card points that had a value of 1.5x the amount if we used them before September ended.  We still have another $300 (at 1x the amount) left for this month. If anybody is interested in checking out an incredible credit card offer – 100,000 free points (a value of $1,000 at 1x the points) – this is my Chase referral code: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6c/PR3FJUQ8CP.

Maya loves her new home and can’t wait to start another adventure
Completely ready to leave Newburyport, Massachusetts!

Telling the readers of this blog that we spent -200 dollars wouldn’t make any sense, so I decided to itemize our expenses like I usually do and the credits and returns on our money will be incorporated in our yearly report. Now, let’s hope that we can finally bring our costs down to the $1,300 monthly average soon!

September 2021 Overview:

Camper (parts: $607; fuel: $364; ins.: $39):

Groceries:

Household (supplies):

Alcohol:

Utilities (phone: $35; propane: $23):

Dog (food):

Entertainment (State Parks NY):

Medical (meds M):

Accommodation:

 

TOTAL:

 

$1010

$349

$102

$72

$58

$32

$20

$4

$0

———

$ 1,647

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – August 2021

September 8, 2021 / / 29 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Apart from two days with friends in Vermont (picking up our camper), Mark, Maya, and I lived the entire month of August in Newburyport, MA, in our room above the garage at my in-laws. We had a busy month with work and prep of our new camper set-up (see this post for more project photos and this post about how we found our pick-up truck). Just like with Zesty, the camper category is often the highest expense, especially when first equipping our vehicle and living space. That’s also why the household amount is high.

Our new camper on the driveway of friends
A quick glimpse at Vermont scenery
Going for a hike with Maya, Max, and Dixie in Vermont
Dixie and Max welcome Maya in their home
Enjoying cooler evening temperatures on the porch
Maya makes herself at home on the bed in our truck camper. She loves it!

Everything else is pretty much “average,” except for the renewal of my driver’s license, I bought the book of my colleague at the Yankee Homecoming event, and dining out. We did our best to keep last month’s expenses reasonable (other than camper necessities), but then decided to treat good friends for lunch.  Who would have guessed a simple Mexican meal (burritos and tacos) costs over $100 for four people? Newburyport is super expensive – another reason to leave soon.

Our truck camper parked on the condo driveway in Newburyport
Protecting the car and camper from paint
Mark spray paints the (rusty) bottom parts of our four jack stands
Replacing the fan in the bathroom
The new vent ($225) on the top back right corner of the camper. Mark is re-caulking the roof edges.

On the positive side, a few months ago we decided to obtain a new credit card to benefit from Chase’s generous offer: receive 80,000 points (which, when transferred to Mark’s account rewarding us 1.5 times the points, means a value of $1,200) if you spend $4,000 the first three months. We had trouble getting there at first (in Belgium multiple places didn’t accept Visa), but once we found our truck and bought car insurance, we were all set! During the summer, the extra points (money) could be used towards groceries, hardware, and dining out as well. so, of the $1,200 we received, $434 went to last month’s expenses, so theoretically, we spent $1,093 instead of $1,527. 🙂

Maya always curls herself around chairs…
Family visit in Newburyport
Maya trying to sneak into the kitchen of my in-laws

If anybody is interested in checking out this offer, which – believe it or not – they have since upped to 100,000 points (a value of $1,000 at 1X the points) – this is my Chase referral code: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6c/PR3FJUQ8CP.

August 2021 Overview:

Camper (parts: $584; fuel: $137; insp.: $36; license L: $50):

Groceries:

Household (supplies):

Dining out:

Alcohol:

Health & Fitness (vitamins M):

Utilities (phone/internet):

Medical (meds M):

Dog (supplements):

Entertainment (book):

Gifts:

 

TOTAL:

 

$807

$328

$132

$102

$50

$41

$35

$13

$10

$6

$3

———

$ 1,527

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – July 2021

August 14, 2021 / / 42 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

The first two weeks of July, Mark and I visited my family and friends in Belgium, while our good buddies Greg and Duwan (of Make Like An Apeman) took good care of Maya in Newburyport, Massachusetts. We splurged on goodies from the grocery store, alcohol to share, and gifts to thank our generous hosts in my home country and our friends back in the US.

Liesbet and aunt Nicole
Flowers for aunt Nicole in Oostende
Plenty of different flavors for a fun night with family
Our fancy credit card allows for free access at the airport lounge – more splurging!
Mark’s last Belgian beer for a while in the airport lounge in Brussels

The two of us also went out for food and drinks one evening to celebrate our fourteenth wedding anniversary outdoors in Oostende. Where did the time go?

Liesbet and Mark in the summer of 2007
Wedding night dinner at a bar – you can read in “Plunge” why we didn’t go out for a fancier meal that night. 🙂

Upon our return to the US, Duwan and Greg stayed on a few more days. Fun! We ordered pizza one night – they treated – and the following night, we splurged on Thai food – our treat. Life was good last month, socializing and catching up with friends and family!

Duwan and Greg in our room – Maya’s new best friends!

The last ten days of July, we tightened the belt for common expenses, as a new money pit arrived! Firstly, we had to order a new passport for Mark and – with the delays – we hope he will receive it before wintertime, when would like to return to Baja California (Mexico).

Truck shopping in Rhode Island
Checking the engine compartment when inspecting this vehicle for the first time
When we bought the truck, it came with a Teneau cover, which we are trying to sell now.

More importantly, we found a pick-up truck! More about that in a next post. Owning a vehicle again means expensive insurance, extra (used) parts to add a truck camper, and relatively pricey improvements. As always, we do all the work ourselves, so only spend money on materials, which Mark researches and buys at the best quality/price ratio. And, of course, there are fuel costs – for our new “thirsty” vehicle and for the one of my mother-in-law.

Our new vehicle
Ready for some car jobs
Adding the rear tie-downs – previously sanded and painted
Wheel well covers for the back

July 2021 was a super expensive month, but for good reasons! 🙂

July 2021 Overview:

Car (ins.: $1,167; gear: $580; fuel: $131;

reg.:$135; parking: $7):

Groceries:

Dining out:

Customs & Immigration (passport Mark):

Drinking out (anniversary):

Gifts:

Utilities (phone/internet):

Alcohol:

Medical:

Postage:

Household:

Entertainment:

 

TOTAL:

 

 

$2,020

$377

$120

$110

$40

$36

$35

$27

$11

$4

$2

$1

———

$ 2,783

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – June 2021

July 21, 2021 / / 40 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

In June, Mark, Maya, and I lived in “our room above the garage” for three weeks. My companions stayed there the entire month and I flew to Belgium, where I visited friends and family from June 24th to July 15th. That first week, I was spoiled rotten by myself. Mark – without Maya – joined me on July 1st, so that is reflected in next month’s expense report.

Kim and Eli offered me wine and snacks one evening
An impromptu, quick meet-up with An in Dendermonde one afternoon – she was smart and kind enough to bring soft drinks and snacks!
Stopping by my good friend Hilde one afternoon – her daughters made a lovely dessert!

The biggest category was a painful one. On our nationwide pick-up truck search, which I still have to elaborate on whenever there is conclusion, Mark flew to a small town in Arkansas on two different planes with a hotel stay in between.  From there he would drive back in our next vehicle. Again, it was not meant to be. Instead, he had to spend another night in a hotel and return by air at increased prices. The entire ordeal – other than loads of extra research, discussions, time, energy, and emotions – set us back almost $800!

When you subtract that amount from June’s total, it wasn’t too bad of a month, despite a few other high-ish categories, like “gifts”… I treated my mom (and dad) to a fancy meal for her 70th birthday at Pacht 26 in Gijzegem and we bought some goodies for our friends Duwan and Greg, who would pet sit Maya during our absence.

Mother and daughter spoiling themselves!
The three of us enjoyed a fabulous multi-course lunch.
The desserts

Before I left Massachusetts, we organized a small outdoor party with my brother-in-law and his wife. The occasion: my in-laws 64th wedding anniversary. The four “kids” cooked a fabulous meal and Mark and I found an original gift – a fancy Irish whisky that incorporates the family name.

A while ago, we noticed these fancy whiskies in the liquor store and a plan was set in motion.
Mark’s last name reflected in the whisky brand
Happy 64th anniversary!!
Good food on the grill…
… and from the oven.
Maya in her strategic position under the table
A family celebration of love in the courtyard
The twins had their own table.
A long relationship still going strong: 64 years!
Mark made a fabulous gluten-free apple crisp

Our dog needed new heartworm meds, so that was taken care of. And I “needed” a haircut before my trip across the Atlantic. Even though I only visit Supercuts once a year or so, I was surprised at how the prices have gone up.

Our grocery, borrowed car, alcohol, and take-out costs were manageable, but we needed a new battery for Mark’s phone (the old one literally grew out of proportions and almost exploded), his passport is due for renewal, and we bought Amazon credit. Mark couldn’t resist the deal “buy $40 of credit and receive $50 worth.” 🙂

Mark carefully replaces his phone battery – tricky!

I’m a tad late with this report; the last three weeks have been extremely hectic with unreliable internet and no me-time. Despite spending different currencies in July, we seem to be back on track this month! Or not?

June 2021 Overview:

Travel Mark (plane + hotels):

Gifts (festivities, treats D + G):

Groceries:

Car (fuel):

Dog (food: $34; meds: $22):

Household (Amazon credit, caulk):

Utilities (phone/internet):

Dining out (take-out pizza):

Health & Fitness (haircut Liesbet):

Customs & Immigration (photos):

Computer (phone battery):

Alcohol:

 

TOTAL:

 

$773

$266

$205

$87

$56

$51

$35

$26

$26

$16

$14

$13

———

$ 1,568

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Monthly Expenses – May 2021

June 9, 2021 / / 47 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

The entire month of May, Mark, Maya, and I lived in our “room above the garage” in Newburyport, Massachusetts. We helped out my in-laws, worked, and researched pick-up trucks. It’s been a huge battle finding the right set-up for our next adventure in this post-pandemic, elusive, and inflated Super Duty truck market. One day, I hope to share our experiences about that in a blog post. So far, unfortunately, there is no end in sight.

Spoiled dog!
Maya loves squeezing in tight spaces – a camper would be the perfect home for her!

May 2021 was another expensive month for us, mainly because we bought two plane tickets to Belgium, for the end of June. That being said, we have no conclusion yet if Mark gets to go, based on European travel restrictions being lifted. What’s a bit more stress… I should be okay with my Belgian passport. Fingers crossed! As prices for flights keep rising, we didn’t want to risk waiting too long to book the tickets. They are exchangeable for vouchers in case we/he can’t go, something we confirmed before paying money. If all goes well, our friends Duwan and Greg will watch Maya for two weeks.

Beach walk on Plum Island
Maya in the dunes
A man and his dog

Our grocery expenses are still high. We blame it on New England being more expensive than the American Southwest, let alone Mexico. We are careful, but each time we pass a Trader Joe’s (which isn’t often), we have to buy a few of our favorite specialties. And, when we visit friends, we can’t show up empty-handed of course. Or maybe the number remains high because we are eating too much?

Friends in our Uxbridge guest room
Mark and his buddies Ryan and Chris
Holly and Liesbet
Take-out dinner with friends
Playing Jenga with friends

We are fortunate to have the use of Mark’s parents’ car to run errands and look at (rusty) pick-up trucks and truck campers in the area. “The area” stretches throughout Massachusetts, to Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Most of our fuel goes to these widespread, time consuming pursuits. We are drinking alcohol again after a multiple-month hiatus. We also shipped a spare part we kept for Zesty to a friend in Arizona, now that we sold our camper van, and tentatively paid for a camper insurance policy (more about that later, if it sticks).

Visiting family in Connecticut on a detour from a truck “inspection”

The only other “high” expense was for a vet visit, in nearby Salisbury. Mark and I took Maya to another vet, in Newburyport, a couple of years ago and weren’t too happy with the inflated prices. So, we tried a different one for a check-up and small procedure, figuring it couldn’t be any worse. The vet and staff were friendly and professional; the doctor said everything was fine. Maya was healthy, the liquid that needed to be expressed was surprisingly clear, and there were no infections.

Maya’s favorite spot in the house these last months: under my desk
Maya getting comfy at my feet
And, where do my feet go?

As we were ready to leave his office and pay our bill, he asked his assistant to grab a container of probiotics and another with antibiotics. Mark and I were confused. “Does she have an infection, or not?” my husband asked. “Yes,” the vet answered. What do you do when a doctor recommends medication, but you don’t quite believe your pet needs it?

We moved to the check-in counter to pay, as the nurse approached with the container of probiotics. “How much does that cost?” Mark inquired. “85 dollars.” What? We declined. We’d feed her a couple of spoons of yogurt each day, if needed, or look for probiotics online. Could we decline the antibiotics as well? This was a toughie. We let that one go ($40 for a generic brand) and for the next two weeks, we fed our dog drugs we didn’t think she needed.

Again, we were disgusted by how vet clinics upsell their products and try to make money. It’s all about money, especially in this part of the world, we once again concluded. Capitalism. It’s been confronting us every step of the way this year. We’ll look for yet another vet next time.

May 2021 Overview:

Travel (plane tickets):

Groceries:

Car (fuel: $182; camper ins.: $147; parking: $7; REFUND: $69):

Dog (vet: $143; food: $34):

Alcohol:

Dining out (take-out, ice cream treat):

Utilities (phone/internet):

Postage:

Medical (co-pay meds):

 

TOTAL:

 

$1,175

$408

$267

$177

$56

$55

$35

$17

$7

———

$ 2,197

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Monthly Expenses – April 2021 (& Another Cross-Country Road Trip)

May 19, 2021 / / 64 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Mark and I sold Zesty last month! If you missed that post, read it here.

Apologies for the late expense report, but I wanted to update everyone about the sale of our camper van first, as it impacts everything we do. We are homeless and carless since April 3rd and rented a vehicle to drive back to Massachusetts, a trip that cost us about $1,000.

Once we removed the bike bag, our ride was smoother.

On hindsight, we should have driven Zesty. It would have saved us a bunch of money and interest was strong enough for a potential buyer to pick the van up on the opposite coast. Also, knowing what we know now – that finding a suitable truck is close to impossible unless we are okay spending $10K more than pre-inflation rates two months ago – we might have held on to our home on wheels a bit longer. Oh well.

April was a decent month, taking the pricey road trip – car rental, four dog-friendly Motel 6 nights, and gasoline to drive over 3,000 miles –  into account. We mostly prepared our own meals, even though this was tricky with the early starts, windy conditions, and not having our own kitchen anymore. It made our days on the road even longer.

Early starts

The grocery category is quite high, because we pretty much ate everything in the camper before we sold it and had to re-provision from scratch once we arrived in Newburyport, MA. We contributed some money to the water fund of our friends in Arizona and ordered dog food and vitamins ahead of our arrival.

The food prep and storage zone in our current room

The car expense was off-set because we received a refund for part of our cancelled camper insurance. Also, $288 for a one-way, one-week rental with unlimited miles is cheap. I commend Mark once more for his research abilities and always finding the best prices for anything we need. We purposefully left gear in Zesty for the new owners, so the camper was turnkey. This means we have to buy those items again, now (like a new router) and later (solar panels, outdoor mat, leveling blocks, …).

Driving by Oklahoma City – I do wish to visit, one day, when we have time.
Scene in the Midwest

I mentioned last week that I would touch on our five-day cross-country drive in this expense report. There really is not much to share: it was a hellish 3,200-mile ride of 10-12 hours in the car, each day. Stops were made to let Maya pee, eat lunch, get fuel, adjust the flimsy bike rack, shop for food, fetch or prepare dinner, work, and sleep.

Me, catching up on work at night

Plus, we made a detour to Arkansas to check out two truck campers. I didn’t have enough space in the passenger seat to work on my computer, so I mostly vegged, listened to music, and consulted my iPad.

Northstar Liberty truck camper
Northstar Liberty SS truck camper

Here are a few notes I took:

  • We should have stuck with the full-size car. What were we thinking to downgrade and pay extra when booking our transport method for the week?
  • All our belongings fit! Barely… But, we didn’t have to leave anything behind, except four rolls of toilet paper. Did you know small, 4-packs are not readily available anymore after the Covid outbreak? We had to buy a 12-pack in Zesty. Where to store all that?
  • Our sturdy swing-out bike rack had to be disassembled. It didn’t fit in the trunk, but we managed to lay it behind the seats on the ground. Not much else fit in those foot wells.
  • Maya needed half of the back seat. All okay. We made it comfy with blankets, pillows, and her dog bed.
Maya in her little nest
Maya was awesome on this long ride!
  • The new bike rack attached to the trunk is crappy — we bought one for three bikes and luckily our electric bikes fit after lots of trial and error. Alas, it needs to be adjusted every time we stop as the straps keep loosening up.
  • This Nissan has no power. (Another reason why a full-size car would have been a better option – a stronger engine.)
  • First day: over 3,000rpm constantly. Struggled to keep up the maximum highway speed. After removing the bike bag, things settled down and the ride was smoother. Then, we had to also store the big bag.
  • The fuel tank only holds 10 gallons, so we have to stop at a gas station two or three times a day! (Another reason why a full-size car would have been a better option – a bigger gas tank.)
  • We are so low by the ground. Every car that passes us is higher!

Most people need a U-Haul truck to transport their belongings!

  • Uncomfortable seats.
  • Where is the car parked on the lot of the supermarket? Hard to find! It’s a non-distinct white rental car…
  • We put the bike bag back at night, so nobody could see the bikes. Luckily, we managed to park in front of our motel doors.
  • We stay at Motel 6. Nothing fancy and often run down, but the cheapest place to stay with pets (no extra fee). Prices per night ranged from $45 (Tucumcari, NM) to $65 (Calvert City, KY).
Mark searching for pick-up trucks at night
One motel had hiking trails nearby – score!
Another night, another motel, more research.
  • No shampoo provided in motels? Ours is packed in the trunk, underneath the rack and bikes. No way of getting in there. We make due, washing our hair with soap (Mark) or dish soap (me). If you read Plunge, you know I have practice with that. 🙂 Just like we made due when needing our sheets hidden in there, staying at a friend’s casita for the night.
  • Windy in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma. Hard to make breakfast and lunch! We miss Zesty for that. And for human potty breaks.

A nice picnic area to eat lunch

  • The picnic areas in Oklahoma were filthy! No trash cans, so garbage everywhere. No toilets either. Broken glass. No spot for Maya to rest without getting hurt. We couldn’t stay for lunch.
  • The radio has issues.
  • The glove compartment door is open on the sides so things get pinched (like my sunglasses) or plainly fall out, each time I open the little door.
  • The fuel gauge didn’t work at the end, so we filled the tank instead of aiming for the amount we received the car with.
  • Because I couldn’t be added to our car rental agreement without paying a steep fee, Mark drove the entire 3,200 miles!

Arizona license plate in Massachusetts – not a common sight. Where is the desert?

But, we made it to Newburyport, Massachusetts, in one piece. The bikes did get scuffed up, however.

Most of our belongings, back in the room above the garage
First evening with Mark’s parents – they are happy we have returned.
The “office” and lounge area in our current digs
The “bedroom” and dining area” in our room – one person sits on the bed, the other on a foldable chair
I’m sure Maya misses sleeping with us on big hotel beds!

Stay tuned for the continuation of our truck search saga!

April 2021 Overview:

Groceries:

Travel (rental car):

Car (fuel: $377; tolls: $40; REFUND: $138):

Accommodation (motels):

Household (bike rack, battery parts):

Computer (new router):

Utilities (internet: $35; water: $25):

Health & Fitness (vitamins):

Dining out (road trip):

Dog (food):

Medical (co-pay meds):

Alcohol:

 

TOTAL:

 

$427

$288

$279

$217

$83

$61

$60

$49

$44

$38

$9

$6

———

$ 1,561

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

I submitted this post to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share #20 link-up.

Monthly Expenses – March 2021 (on the Baja Peninsula, Mexico)

April 12, 2021 / / 26 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Pretty much the entire month of March, Mark, Maya, and I lived and traveled in Zesty in Baja California, Mexico. In general, life is cheaper south of the border, with the big exception of fuel. That’s why these final numbers were a bit surprising to me; I thought we’d do better. But, there were some unusual additions to our normal spending habits.

Sunrise at Playa La Perla
Our favorite campsite along Bahia Concepcion: Playa La Escondida
Laundry facilities at our campground in Loreto
Laundry prices – $1.50 per load of washing and $1.50 per load of drying
The only facilities at this $10 a night campground of Rancho Mil, an hour south of the US border, were trash, pit toilets, and cold showers.

One of them was the annual city tax for our camper, which ironically is rarely ever in Newburyport and when it is, it just sits on the driveway unused. We splurged on a whale tour, which was seriously worth the money – but not so much the effort getting there… Our annual Chase Sapphire Reserve visa card fee is always due in March. While this seems high, we get much more than $150 back in credits, points, and other benefits during a year of usage. We also had a wonderful dinner out for Mark’s 50th birthday.

One of the many whales approaching our little boat

The utility category is higher than usual, because we kept our affordable and discontinued AT&T plan in the US  ($35/ month for unlimited data use) while also buying a Mexican equivalent from Telcel for our time in Baja. The same happened with our dog, Maya. We needed new dog food in Mexico, which wasn’t a good idea (more about that in an upcoming blog) and which resulted in ordering better food that awaited us upon our return across the border.

Eating out(side) with our camping friends Sandie and Karsten from Germany
Free camping south of Mulege
Camped for free near Mesquite Canyon

On the flipside, groceries were affordable. We only bought enough for a few days at a time and ate out frequently. Based on that, I did expect the dining out category to be higher, especially since it includes a fancy (very!) delayed birthday meal for me, joined by our friends Sandie and Karsten. On my actual birthday (and book launch), our bubble of friends only had snacks to hold us over because nobody felt like cooking.

Free camping near Posada Concepcion
Calm morning walk
The settlement of Posada Concepcion
Free camping north of Loreto
Beach and view towards Loreto
More chances to do my favorite walk along Bahia Concepcion

While it sure adds up, camping appeared cheaper than anticipated as well. Half of the nights in Baja, we paid for Zesty to be parked at an official campground ($10 a night) or on the beach ($7 – $10/night), where Mexican concessionaries would collect their fees. I did bargain when we stayed longer in one place along Bahia Concepcion and we intermittently camped for free in Mexico and always once back in the US.

Free camping between Bahia Concepcion and Loreto
View over the bay
Maya enjoys being outdoors
Parked overnight (for free) at Villa Jesus and Maria on our drive back north
Free camping south of San Felipe

To see how fellow nomads Duwan and Greg made out in March, click here.

March 2021 Overview:

Camper (diesel: $184; city tax: $77):

Groceries:

Camping:

Bank charge (visa card):

Dining out:

Entertainment (whale tour):

Utilities (internet: $61; water: $9; prop: $6; Skype: $5):

Dog (food: $61; vet: $4):

Gifts (B-day dinner Mark):

Household:

Alcohol:

Clothing (flip flops):

Laundry:

 

TOTAL:

 

$261

$189

$162

$150

$97

$94

$81

$65

$50

$25

$8

$6

$6

———

$ 1,194

Compare this result to the one from last month – also in Baja California – here. Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

A Special Baja Birthday – My Husband’s 50th

March 28, 2021 / / 64 Comments

Mark has a fantastic group of tight-knit college friends. Most of them turn 50 this year. The plan was for the men to gather somewhere fun in the spring of 2021 and have a mighty good time. But, because of Covid, no such plans were made. It was up to me to throw a two-person and one-dog special birthday party! How? By renting a small casita along Bahia Concepcion, via AirBnB.

The blue casita is where we stayed for Mark’s birthday weekend

A jaunt to Mexico seems to be my go-to when it comes to quick Mexican-themed birthdays for my husband. Three years ago, we ended up in Puerto Penasco, because I couldn’t find a restaurant in the middle of the desert of Southern Arizona to treat him (he loves Mexican food). In March 2006, we found ourselves on the mainland of Mexico for Mark’s birthday celebrations.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read the captions. My images are heavily resized for easier downloading and uploading; I apologize for their inferior quality.)

View from our small balcony
View from our bedroom
Our private beach came with a plethora of kayaks and paddleboards in varying states of disrepair.
View to the right
View to the left
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